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California courts make custody and visitation decisions based on what serves the child’s best interests—not on what either parent wants most. While the law encourages parents to work together whenever possible, disagreements over parenting time, decision-making authority, relocation, and other important issues often require experienced legal guidance.
A Petaluma child custody and visitation attorney at Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. can help you understand your rights, explain the custody process, and advocate for an arrangement that protects both your child and your relationship with them. Whether your case is resolved through negotiation, mediation, or litigation in Sonoma County Superior Court, our attorneys are committed to helping you move forward with confidence.
Our firm has focused exclusively on family law for nearly 40 years, and our legal team brings more than 400 combined years of experience representing parents throughout Sonoma County. We understand that every family is different, and we work to develop practical, customized solutions that reflect your family’s unique needs.
Child custody cases involving Petaluma families are heard in the Family Law Division of the Sonoma County Superior Court. California recognizes two different types of custody—legal custody and physical custody—and every decision is based on what is in the child’s best interests.
Some parents can work together to create parenting agreements on their own, while others require mediation or court intervention to resolve disagreements. Regardless of how your case proceeds, understanding the legal process from the start can help reduce uncertainty and help you to make informed decisions at every step.
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, we guide clients through every stage of the custody process, helping them understand California law while pursuing solutions that promote long-term stability for both parents and children.
Every custody dispute is different. Some parents simply need assistance drafting a parenting agreement, while others face complex disputes involving relocation, allegations of abuse, modifications, or enforcement of existing court orders.
Our attorneys work closely with clients throughout Petaluma and Sonoma County to:
Our goal is always to help clients reach practical, workable solutions while protecting both parental rights and children’s well-being.
Legal custody refers to a parent’s authority to make important decisions regarding a child’s upbringing. These decisions commonly involve:
California courts may award either sole legal custody or joint legal custody.
Joint Legal Custody: Joint legal custody allows both parents to participate in making significant decisions regarding their child. Although one parent may have more parenting time than the other, both parents continue sharing responsibility for major decisions.
Sole Legal Custody: Sole legal custody gives one parent the exclusive authority to make these decisions when sharing decision-making would not be in the child’s best interests.
Physical custody determines where a child lives and how parenting time is divided between parents.
Joint Physical Custody: Joint physical custody allows the child to spend significant time with each parent. While parenting time is not always divided equally, both parents remain actively involved in the child’s daily life.
Sole Physical Custody: Sole physical custody means the child primarily resides with one parent, while the other parent generally receives visitation according to a court-approved schedule.
Every parenting arrangement should promote stability, consistency, and the child’s overall well-being. Courts recognize that every family’s circumstances are different and work to establish schedules that support the child’s educational, emotional, and developmental needs.
Parents involved in contested custody disputes in Sonoma County are required to participate in mediation through Sonoma County Family Court Services before a judge will decide custody issues.
During mediation, a neutral professional works with both parents to identify areas of agreement and help develop a parenting plan. The mediator does not represent either parent and does not make legal decisions. Instead, mediation is designed to encourage cooperation while reducing conflict whenever possible.
If the parents successfully reach an agreement, it may be submitted to the court and become an enforceable custody order. If mediation is unsuccessful, the case proceeds before a judge who will decide the unresolved issues.
Preparing for mediation is an important part of many custody cases, and experienced legal guidance can help parents understand what to expect throughout the process.
California courts make custody decisions according to the child’s best interests rather than either parent’s personal preferences.
When evaluating custody arrangements, courts may consider many “best interests” factors, including:
Rather than focusing on one factor alone, judges evaluate the entire family situation before determining which arrangement best serves the child’s long-term interests.
A parenting plan establishes how parents will continue sharing responsibilities after separation or divorce. Once approved by the court, it becomes a legally enforceable order.
A comprehensive parenting plan commonly addresses:
A detailed parenting plan helps reduce misunderstandings while providing children with consistency and stability. An experienced Petaluma child custody attorney can help you create a comprehensive agreement that addresses a full scope of parenting responsibilities and your family’s unique needs.
Custody orders are not necessarily permanent. If circumstances change substantially after a custody order has been entered, either parent may ask the court to modify the existing arrangement.
Examples of changed circumstances include:
The court will only approve modifications that continue to serve the child’s best interests.
Every family is unique, and every custody matter deserves personalized legal guidance. Whether you are establishing an initial parenting plan, modifying an existing custody order, or resolving a contested custody dispute, Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. is prepared to help.
Contact our Petaluma child custody attorneys today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how we can help protect your parental rights, your child’s well-being, and the best possible outcome for your family’s needs.
"I was seeking a reputable family law firm for my prenuptial agreement and received high praise for the Schoenberg Law Group. My attorney listened to my questions and responded to them very patiently. She also paid close attention all my concerns and made sure I was aware of the legal value of the agreement I was about to sign. It was…”
D.R.“It has been a real blessing to find this family law group in my life. I was in the middle of a custody battle with my ex wife and had a lawyer who had sided with my ex wife’s lawyer. I was faced with the option of paying to a regular lawyer to do half jobs with no results or to invest a bit more for a top family counselor who understood my situation and at the same time not giving me false hopes."
A.L."I hesitated filing papers for a long time because I was not sure if I could survive a long legal battle. When we were married, my husband worked while I raised the children, two under four years old, and I was afraid I would lose the stability they needed. I had a wonderful group of friends that helped me search for a reputable law firm that could represent me when my focus was on my children. They found the"
L.A.We are trial lawyers who litigate high-conflict, high-stakes cases. While we try to build on mediation efforts and exhaust opportunities for a negotiated agreement, emotions, egos and various other realities often force these disputes into court. It is critical to work with a firm that knows how to apply the law and the facts in your favor, whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.
Debra Schoenberg was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
Designated as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State of California Board of Legal Specialization
Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
One of California’s Top Family Lawyers for five consecutive years: 2022–2026
SFLG Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California for six consecutive years: 2021 - 2026
One of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by San Francisco Business Times
“My goal is to preserve your dignity and your humanity throughout what can be a very difficult and painful process, while at the same time achieving a favorable outcome on your behalf.”
Over 400 Years of Collective Family Law Experience
Debra R. Schoenberg
Owner & Founder
Lily Huang
Senior Associate
Kimia Kojouri
Associate
Miho Takarada
Senior Counsel
Custody decisions are based on the child's best interests. California courts evaluate numerous factors, including each parent's relationship with the child, the child's safety and welfare, and the family's unique circumstances, before entering a custody order.
Yes. Parents involved in contested custody matters are required to participate in mediation through Sonoma County Family Court Services before a judge will decide custody issues.
Legal custody involves making important decisions about a child's upbringing, while physical custody determines where the child lives and how parenting time is shared between parents.
Yes. If there has been a significant change in circumstances, either parent may ask the court to modify an existing custody order. The requested modification must continue to serve the child's best interests.
Yes. California encourages parents to work together whenever possible. If the court approves the agreement, it becomes an enforceable custody order.
California does not give children the automatic right to choose where they will live. However, a judge may consider the wishes of a mature child—generally age 14 or older—when appropriate.
A parent may ask the court to enforce an existing custody order if the other parent refuses to comply. Repeated violations may affect future custody determinations.
Although you are not legally required to have an attorney, custody disputes often involve complicated legal procedures and significant long-term consequences. An experienced attorney can help protect your rights while advocating for your child's best interests.
